Howard says assembly snub will hurt Labour

THE government risks "humiliation" if the people of the north west reject plans for a mini-parliament, claimed Tory leader Michael Howard. Mr Howard gave his full backing to "no" campaigners ahead of a referendum on whether to adopt an elected assembly. See the interview with the Conservative Party leader.

THE government risks "humiliation" if the people of the north west reject plans for a mini-parliament, claimed Tory leader Michael Howard.

Mr Howard, speaking to the M.E.N. at the end of a two-day tour of the region, gave his full backing to "no" campaigners ahead of a referendum to decide whether to adopt an elected assembly.

And he took a swipe at John Prescott, suggesting the deputy prime minister had worsened the chances of the "yes" camp by giving them his support.

Mr Howard said: "This has been a central piece of their policy for a long time. It is not going to bring any powers closer to the people from Whitehall, from London. It would be sucking up powers from local authorities and I think that is a great mistake."

Argument

Mr Howard rejected the argument that an assembly would give democratic control over hundreds of millions spent every year by the unelected regional development agency.

"That money is provided by government and government ought to make sure it is spent properly," he said.

Mr Howard had earlier visited "no" vote campaigners in Leyland before making a controversial speech slamming the far-right British National Party in their stronghold of Burnley.

The Tory leader said the BNP were a "bunch of thugs dressed up as a political party" and "a stain on our democratic way of life".

He said later: "These racists should not be ignored. If we turn a blind eye to them we find that they grow. We need to tackle them head-on and be very blunt in telling people what lies behind organisations like the BNP."

Mr Howard accepted the decline of the Conservative Party in industrial northern towns was part of the reason why fringe parties had flourished, adding: "We will be putting as many candidates as we can in the local elections."